Escutcheon assembly for handles and the like



Nov. 16, 1954 e. E. DEY

ESCUTCHEON ASSEMBLY FOR HANDLES AND THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 31, 1949 ,.l z M r a we M Q If M]! 6 Nov. 16; 1954 Filed March 31. 1949 e. E. DEY 2,694,594

ESCUTCHEON ASSEMBLY FOR HANDLES AND THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. flaw/6 .4? flay WWW ESCUTCHEON ASSEMBLY FOR HANDLES AND THE LIKE George E. Dey, Grand Rapids, Mich., assignor, by mesne assignments, to National Lead Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application March 31, 1949, Serial No. 84,657

8 Claims. (Cl. 292-356) This invention relates to improvements in an escutcheon assembly for handles and the like.

The main' objects of this invention are:

First, to provide an improved escutcheon unit for door handles and other similar hardware which greatly facilitates the assembling of the handle on its coactmg spindle and provides a structure which is economically produced and at the same time highly attractive 1n appearance.

Second, to provide an escutcheon unit which 1s well adapted for use on various types of door handles or other similar elements and which greatly facilitates the assembling of the parts.

Objects relating to details and economies of the mvention will appear from the description to follow. The 1nvention is pointed out in the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention 18 illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in wh ch:

Fig. l is a fragmentary view partially insection of a door handle assembly embodying my invention, the parts being shown somewhat enlarged.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view partially in section and illustrating the escutcheon unit in collapsed positionto facilitate the insertion or removal of the handle retaining m. p Fig. 3 is a fragmentary View in section on a line corresponding to line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view part1ally 1n sectlon illustrating a modified form or embodiment of my nvention.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view in section on a l1ne corresponding to line 5-5 of Fig. 6 of another form or embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view part1ally in section on a line corresponding to line 6-6 of Figs. 5 and 7 of the embodiment of my invention shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view looking from the top of Fig. 5 of the escutcheon unit.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, 1 represents a door panel or the like and 2 a covering or finish therefor. The door panel is provided with a hole through which the spindle 4 projects. The handle 5 is secured upon the spindle by means of the pm 6. These parts are conventional except that the handle is provided with a shouldered extension 7 having a socket 8 therein adapted to receive the spindle, the extension having a transverse bore 9 adapted to receive the securing pin 6.

The escutcheon in the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 3 comprises the tubular base member 10 prov1 ded with a laterally projecting support member 11, in this embodiment the support member being formed integrally with the base member and extending outwardly from its outer end. The peripheral edge of the support member 1s turned rearwardly at 12 providing a rounded bead-like reinforcing edge adapted to engage the side of the support. The rearward end of the base member is conformed into an inwardly projecting curved flange 13 providing a forwardly facing seat 14 for the base or rearward coil 15 of the spring 16.

The front escutcheon member 17 is provided with a rearwardly projecting peripheral flange 18 telescoping within the base member 10. The front escutcheon member is provided with an opening receiving the handle extension 7 and is adapted to abut the shoulder 19 on the handle. The inner edge 20 of the escutcheon member 17 is conformed to provide a forwardly offset spring receiving seat 21 which receives the front coil of the spring 16. The seat flanges 130 and 200, as shown in F1g. 1, are

Sttes Patent 0 upset or swaged upon end coils so that each seat supportingly engages the coil for more than half the circumference thereof transversely of the strand thereof. The spring serves as a connecting means for the base and front escutcheon members. With this arrangement the front escutcheon member may be collapsed as shown in Fig. 2 to permit the insertion or removal of the pin 6. This arrangement also facilitates assembly of the tubular base member, spring and front escutcheon member as a unit to the spindle of the handle. As shown in Fig. 1 the peripheral flange 18 of the front escutcheon member is spaced radially inwardly from the tubular base member. The end coils of the spring being connected to the seats as above described, the flange 18 is yieldingly held in spaced relation from the tubular base member 10 at the time of assembly of the unit to the spindle. This arrangement permits the flange 18 and tubular base member 10 to yieldingly give somewhat radially relative to each other to facilitate a flat contacting relation of the support member 11 against the panel of the door and a flat contacting relation of the front escutcheon member 17 against the shoulder of the handle in the event of such an irregularity as that of the panel of the door not being at right angles to the spindle, or the axis of the assembly not properly coinciding with the axis of the spindle. When released, the front escutcheon member is projected against the shoulder 19 and covers the pin. The support 11, in this embodiment of my invention, is of generally dished or concavo-convex form facing rearwardly and provides an attractive finish for the assembly.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 4, the support member 22 is formed separately from the base member and has a rearwardly turned flange 23 at its inner edge desirably in press fitting engagement with the outer side of the base member. In this embodiment the support is spaced from the forward end of the base member and is adapted to receive the annular face plate 24 which is arranged thereon to closely embrace the base member. The base member has an outturned flange 25 at its forward end overlapping and retainingly engaging the face plate. This face plate is desirably of plastic of suitable color conformed to blend or harmonize with other features of the structure on which the escutcheon is used.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7 the wall or support 1 is provided with a beading or finish rib 26. In this structure the support member 27 has a rearwardly turned flange 28 at its outer edge adapted to seat against the support 1, the portion 29 of the support being noncircular and having an offset 30 therein adapted to receive the beading or finish strip 26. In this embodiment the face plate 40 corresponding to the face plate 24 is recessed at 31 to receive the flange 25 on the base member 32 corresponding to the base member 10. In this embodiment the base member has an inturned flange 33 of substantial width terminating in the outwardly facing spring supporting seat 34 which is in alignment with the spring supporting seat 35 of the front escutcheon member 36. This enables the use of the straight helically coiled spring 37 as distinguished from the conical spring of the disclosures previously described. The end coils are secured in their seats by swaging or staking as described for the structure of Fig. 1. The flange 28 of the support 27 is provided with pointed lugs 38 adapted to be embedded in the door panel or support to prevent rotative movement of the assembly on the support.

All the embodiments illustrated are highly attractive in appearance but by employing the face plates as shown in Figs. 4 to 7, inclusive, a wide variety of designs may be secured with a minimum of modification in structure.

I have illustrated and described my invention in highly commercial embodiments thereof. I have not attempted to illustrate or describe the various adaptations and modifications which I contemplate as it is believed that this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my invention as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An escutcheon assembly for handles and the like comprising a tubular base member having an integral inwardly facing dished lateraly projecting support member at its outer end, the inner end of the base member being turned radially inwardly and then axially outwardly providing an outwardly facing spring supporting seat, an annular outer escutcheon member having a rearwardly projecting peripheral flange telescoping within the said base member, said outer escutcheon member having a rearwardly facing outwardly offset spring supporting seat, and a conical compression spring having its base coil disposed and secured in said seat in said base member and its outer coil disposed and secured in said seat in said outer escutcheon member, the coil seat for said base coil and the coil seat for said outer coil each being swaged upon the coil to retainingly engage the coil on opopsite sides thereof radially of the spring and on opposite sides thereof axially of the spring, said spring acting to yieldably support the outer escutecheon member.

2. An escutcheon assembly for handles and the like comprising a tubular base member having a support member projecting radially outwardly therefrom, an annular outer escutcheon member having a tube-like flange telescoping within said tubular base member and spaced a substantial distance radially inwardly therefrom for displacement of said tube-like flange a substantial distance radially of said tubular base member, and a coiled compression spring disposed between the base and escutcheon members and having coils at the opposite ends thereof connected to said base and escutcheon members, said spring yieldingly supporting said members in axially spaced relation from each other and yieldingly supporting said tube-like flange and tubular base member in said radially spaced relation from each other, said tube-like flange and said tubular base member being tiltable relative to each other to incline the axis of one at different angles relative to the axis of the other.

3. The escutcheon assembly for handles and the like comprising a tubular base member having a support member projecting radially outwardly therefrom and having a spring supporting seat, an anular outer escutcheon member having a rearwardly projecting tube-like flange telescoping within said tubular base member and spaced radially inwardly therefrom, said escutcheon member having a spring supporting seat, a coiled compression spring having the coils at the opposite ends thereof supported in said seats, each seat being disposed to retainingly support the coil therein on the opposite sides thereof axially of the spring and on opposite sides thereof radially of the spring, said spring yieldingly supporting the tube-like flange of the escutcheon member in said radially inward spaced relation from the tubular base member, said tubelike flange and said tubular base member being tiltable relative to each other to incline the axis of the one at different angles relative to the axis of the other.

4. An escutcheon assembly for handles and the like comprising a tubular base member having a radially outwardly projecting support member fixed thereto between its outer and inner ends, said base member having a radially outwardly projecting flange at its outer end and a radially inwardly projecting flange at its inner end providing an outwardly facing spring supporting seat, an annular face plate arranged on the tubular portion of said tubular base member forwardly of and in supported relation to said support member, said flange at the outer end of said base member being in overlapping retaining engagement with the outer surface of said face plate, an annular outer escutcheon member having a rearwardly projecting peripheral tube-like flange telescoping within said base member, said tube-like flange being spaced a substantial distance radially inwardly from the tubular base member for displacement of said tube-like flange a substantial distance radially of said tubular base member, said outer escutcheon member having a rearwardly facing outwardly offset spring supporting seat at its outer end, and a coiled compression spring disposed between said base and escutcheon members and having its inner coil disposed and secured in said seat in said base member and its outer coil disposed and secured in said seat in said outer escutcheon member, said spring yieldingly supporting said base and escutcheon members in axially spaced relation from each other and yieldingly supporting said tube-like flange and tubular base member in said radially spaced relation, said tube-like flange and said .tubular base member being tiltable relative to each other to incline the axis of one at different angles relative to the axis of the ot er.

5. An escutcheon assembly for handles and the like comprising a tubular base member having a radially outwardly projecting support member fixed thereto between its outer and inner ends, said base member having aradially outwardly projecting flange at its outer end and having a spring supporting seat adjacent its inner end, an annular face plate arranged on the tubular portion of said base member in supported relation to the forward face of said support member, said flange at the outer end of said base member being in overlapping retaining engagement with the outer surface of said face plate, an annular outer escutcheon member having a rearwardly projecting peripheral tube-like flange telescoping within said base member and having a spring supporting seat adjacent its outer end, said tube-like flange being spaced a substantial distance radially inwardly from the tubular base member for displacement of said tube-like flange a substantial distance radially of said tubular base member, and a coiled compression spring disposed between said base and escutcheon members and having its inner coil seated in and connected to said seat of said base member and its outer coil supportingly engaging and connected to said seat of said outer escutcheon member, said spring yieldingly supporting said base and escutcheon members in axially spaced relation from each other and yieldingly supporting said tube-like'flange and tubular base member in said radially spaced relation, said tube-like flange and said tubular base member being tiltable relative to each other to incline the axis of one at different angles relative to the axis of the other.

6. An escutcheon assembly for handles and the like comprising a tubular base member having a radially outwardly projecting support member fixed thereto, said base member having an inwardly projecting flange at its inner end providing an outwardly facing spring supporting seat, an annular face plate arranged on the tubular portion of said base member in supported relation to the forward face of said support member, said base member having means thereon engaging the forward face of said face plate to retain the face plate on the base member, an annular outer escutcheon member having a tube-like flange telescoping within said base member and having a rearwardly facing spring supporting seat, said tube-like flange being spaced a substantialdistance radially inwardly from the tubular base member for displacement of said tube-like flange a substantial distance radially of said tubular base member, and a coil compression spring disposed between said base and escutcheon members and having its inner coil disposed and secured in said seat in said base member and its outer coil disposed and secured in said seat in said escutcheon member, said spring yieldingly supporting said base and escutcheon members in axially spaced relation from each other and yieldingly supporting said tube-like flange and tubular base member in said radially spaced relation, said tube-like flange and said tubular base member being tiltable relative to each other to incline the axis of one at different angles relative to the axis of the other.

7. An escutcheon assembly for handles and the like comprising a tubular base member having a radially outwardly projecting support member fixed thereto, an annular face plate arranged on the tubular portion of said base member in supported relation to the forward face of said support member, said base member having means thereon engaging the forward face of said face plate to retain the face plate on the base member, an annular outer escutcheon member having a tube-like flange telescoping within said base member, said tube-like flange being spaced a substantial distance radially inwardly from the tubular base member for displacement of said tubelike flange a substantial distance radially of said tubular base member, and a coiled compression spring disposed between said base and escutcheon members and having inner and outer coils connected to said base and escutcheon members, said spring yieldingly supporting said base and escutcheon members in axially spaced relation to each other and yieldingly supporting said tubelike flange and tubular base member in said radiallyspaced relation, said tube-like flange and said tubular base member being tiltable relative to each other to incline the axis of one at different angles relative to the axis of the other.

8. An escutcheon assembly for handles and the like comprising a tubular base member having a radially outwardly projecting support member at its outer end, an annular face plate arranged on the tubular portion of said base member, said support member at the outer end of said base member being in retaining engagement with the outer face of said face plate, means fixedly connected to the tubular portion of the base member and projecting outwardly therefrom and in supporting relation to the inner face of the face plate to retain the same on said tubular portion, an annular outer escutcheon member having a tube-like flange telescoping within said base member, said tube-like flange being spaced a substantial distance radially inwardly from the tubular base member for displacement of said tube-like flange a substantial distance radially of said tubular base member, and a coiled compression spring disposed between said base and escutcheon members and having its inner coil connected to said base member and its outer coil connected to said outer escutcheon member, said spring yieldingly supporting said base and escutcheon members in axially spaced relation from each other and yieldingly supporting said tube-like flange and tubular base member in said 6 radially spaced relation, said tube-like flange and said tubular base member being tiltable relative to each other to incline the axis of one at different angles relative to the axis of the other.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,672,711 Cummins June 5, 1928 1,742,742 Wilson Jan. 7, 1930 2,256,710 Gowdy Sept. 23, 1941 2,292,612 Carmichael Aug. 11, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 383,464 Great Britain Nov. 17, 1932 

